CELTA: Certificate in Language Teaching to Adults

The Celta is the key initial teacher training qualification from the University of Cambridge and is recognised all over the world by schools, universities and many Ministries of Education


The Celta is a very challenging but extremely rewarding course and experience. You will learn many new teaching techniques, be observed teaching and receive professional feedback designed to help you become a better teacher. After the course you will be a more confident teacher with practical knowledge about teaching which you will be able to apply immediately in your classroom.

Our next Celta Course will be in July 2012.

ABOUT THE CELTA

1. Course Description:

This is an introductory course designed primarily for candidates with little or no previous English language teaching experience. It is also suitable for teachers who have teaching experience but who have had little or no formal training. It is considered to be a solid foundation for teaching English as a foreign language. The course is recognised by EFL organisations worldwide and the certificate is the most highly respected of its kind in the world.

2. Applicant Profile:

Applicants for the course should have an awareness of language and a competence in English, both written and spoken, that enables them to follow the course and complete the assignments and teach a range of levels. They should normally have a standard of education that would allow them entry to Higher Education in their country. Candidates must usually be 20 years old at the start of the course (although candidates from the age of 18 may be accepted at the centre’s discretion where it is confirmed that they have the potential to develop the necessary skills to become effective teachers and that the course is suitable for them in terms of their background and their career plans.)

3. Course Requirements:

The Cambridge Certificate requires an attendance of a minimum of 120 hours over 4 weeks. These hours include:

  • input
  • tutorial support and consultation
  • supervised lesson planning
  • six hours assessed teaching practice
  • peer observation of teaching practice
  • six hours’ directed observation of live lessons taught by experienced ELT professionals

A minimum of 80 hours of unsupervised work outside of timetabled course hours is required in addition.

Candidates must be present for at least 80% of each component of the course in order to pass, although 100% attendance is expected, and time off is granted in exceptional circumstances only.

4. Assessment Overview:

The CELTA is awarded to candidates who have completed the course and met the assessment criteria for all written and practical assignments.

By the end of the course, candidates should show that they are able to:

  • assess learners' needs and plan and teach lessons which take account of learners’ backgrounds, learning preferences and current needs
  • demonstrate language knowledge and awareness and appropriate teaching strategies
  • demonstrate knowledge about language skills and how they may be acquired
  • plan and prepare lessons designed to develop their learners' overall language competence
  • demonstrate an appropriate range of teaching skills at this level and show professional awareness and responsibility

5. Teaching Practice and Observation

Teaching practice is an integral part of the course and takes place every day. It is related to the areas covered in the input sessions. Trainees work in groups of six to plan, observe and give feedback to each other on the teaching they have done. Candidates teach at least two different levels of students on the course to get experience of teaching at different levels. In feedback on teaching, all lessons are discussed by TP groups and tutors. Tutors give both verbal and written feedback on each assessed lesson. Trainees also observe at least 6 hours of lessons given by qualified teachers.


Additional time is required for lesson preparation and written assignments. As the course is full-time and very intensive, it is impossible to have any other commitments during the period of the course. Candidates will find they have to work most evenings and at weekends on course-related work.

At International House Newcastle, we offer an optional course extension of 2 extra weeks at no further cost, when you can refine your newly acquired skills by teaching our voluntary students with the help of the school’s resources and further less intensive guidance from experienced teachers. This extension is designed to help you build your confidence and get further practice before you take up a full-time professional teaching post. Where courses run back to back, this opportunity may be offered at a later date.

6. GRADING

Assessment is carried out on a continuous basis. There are two components for assessment:

  • Component One: planning and teaching
  • Component two: Classroom-related written assignments.

There is at least one individual tutorial (mid-course), where trainees have a chance to discuss their progress to date with a tutor.

The Certificate is awarded to candidates who have met the course requirements and whose performance meets, or exceeds, the criteria in both assessment components.

  • A "Pass" is awarded to candidates whose performance overall in the teaching practice and on the written assignments meets the specified criteria. These criteria are available for inspection at International House throughout the course, and can be viewed on-line at www.CambridgeESOL.org/teaching
  • A Pass Grade B is awarded to candidates whose performance on the written assignments meets the specified criteria and who have demonstrated in their teaching practice a level of achievement significantly higher than that required to meet pass-level criteria in relation to classroom teaching skills and professionalism.
  • A Pass Grade A is awarded to candidates whose performance on the written assignments meets the specified criteria and who have demonstrated in their teaching practice a level of achievement significantly higher than that required to meet pass level criteria in relation to planning for effective teaching, classroom teaching skills and professionalism.

An external assessor evaluates each CELTA course to ensure that standards are met by all centres.

On completion of the course, International House Riga will also supply a written report for each candidate to indicate specific strengths and areas needing development. IH will send out provisional grades a few days after the course. These will be confirmed on receipt of the official certificates from Cambridge approximately four to eight weeks after the course end. The course tutor's decision is final and there is no appeals procedure, although there is a complaints procedure. It is important to note that the offer of a place does not in itself guarantee success in obtaining the certificate.

7. APPLICATION FOR THE COURSE

The application form and pre-interview task must be completed and returned to the school for consideration by tutors at International House Riga Teacher Training before any arrangements can be made for an interview. If you are based outside the UK and cannot attend an interview in person, a telephone/Sype interview can be arranged. If you would prefer to be interviewed at an alternative International House school, please indicate this choice on your application form. Please note that this may entail a fee. Due to the popularity of the course we recommend early application, as there are limited places on each course.

8. FEES

As soon as you are accepted on the course you should pay your deposit. We cannot reserve a place on the course until the deposit has been received. Deposits cannot be returned under any circumstances.

The balance of the total fees must be paid at least one month prior to the start of the course. If we have not received your fees by this date you may lose your place.

Once your balance is received we will send out a pre-course learning task to help you prepare for the course. We recommend that you spend a minimum of ten to fifteen hours on this.

In the case of cancellation made later than four weeks before the start of the course, requests for refund of fees (excluding deposit) can only be considered if we have been able to fill the place at short notice.

  • Total course fees: to be confirmed (inc. Cambridge ESOL entry fee).
  • Non-returnable deposit: 200.00 Lats (includes Cambridge ESOL fee).
  • Balance payable at least 1 month before start of course: to be confirmed.
  • The final deadline for applications is May 30th 2012

9. ACCOMMODATION

This can be arranged on request.

10. RECOMMENDED BOOKS

  • How to Teach English - Harmer (Longman)
  • Learning Teaching - Scrivener (Heinemann)
  • Practical English Usage - Michael Swan (OUP)

It is advisable to buy your own copy of Harmer, Scrivener and Swan  prior to the course. Additional books required for this course will be available for reference at International House.

11. AFTER YOUR COURSE

Finding a job

It has been estimated that more than one billion people in the world today speak, or are learning to speak English. The range of locations and situations in which English language teachers are in demand is enormous.

 

Working with IH

IH World Human Resources recruits hundreds of teachers each year to work in IH affiliated schools. Most contracts with IH schools are for one year. Salaries are locally appropriate and are usually payable in the local currency. Return air-fare, paid holidays and assistance with accommodation are offered on most contracts outside the UK. IH is perhaps unique in the world of TEFL in offering an international career structure for its staff.

 

International House Riga will be interested in employing successful candidates who achieve an A or B pass on the course.

12. COURSE DATES

The next CELTA Course will run in July 2012, exact dates to be confirmed.